Characterization Of Kenaf Bast Fibre Filled Poly(Butylene Succinate) Composites: Mechanical, Water Absorption And Weathering Properties
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Date
2011-01
Authors
Ahmad Thirmizir, Mohd Zharif
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Characterization of kenaf bast fibre (KBF) filled poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composites in this study involved several stages. Firstly, the effect of KBF loadings (10 – 40 wt. %) on flexural and impact properties were investigated. The flexural strength of the composites increased with increasing fibre loadings up to 30 wt. % with the highest value of about 9.4 % before decreasing with a further increase in fibre loading. The flexural modulus of the composites increased about 87.1 – 424 % with increasing KBF loadings from 10 to 40 wt. %. This indicates that the addition of KBF at 30 wt. % loading had resulted in a balance of performance and processability of the composites. However, the stiff nature of the KBF resulted in the reduction of the composites’ impact strength. Secondly, the effect of fibre length (5, 10, 15 and 20 mm KBF) on the mechanical properties was investigated at fibre loading of 30 wt. %. Composite with 10 mm KBF length showed the highest increment in flexural strength and modulus of about 16.7 and 3.6%, respectively. The inferior flexural and impact strength of the composites with 15 mm and 20 mm KBF length could be due to the relatively longer fibres that underwent severe fibre attrition as a result of high mechanical shearing during the compounding. This was proven by analysis of the fibre length, diameter and aspect ratio. Third stage focused on the improvement of fibre-matrix interfacial adhesion by an introduction of unpurified and purified maleated PBS compatibilisers. For preparation of PBSgMA, DCP initiator concentration was kept constant at 1 phr while MA concentration was varied from 3 - 10 phr. The optimum enhancements in flexural and impact strength
were observed in both composites with addition of 5 wt. % unpurified and purified compatibilisers at 5 phr MA concentration. The inferior mechanical properties of the composites with unpurified compatibilisers to those with purified compatibilisers probably due to the presence of unreacted MA in the unpurified compatibilisers which could restrict the formation of complete bridging between matrix and fibres.
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Keywords
Characterization of kenaf bast fibre , filled poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composites